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This Weekend: Manchester Pride

Manchester gets ready to show some Pride

The unmissable annual celebration of all things LGBT comes to a climax in Manchester this weekend with ‘The Big Weekend'!

This event will close the festivities enjoyed by thousands of people throughout August’s Manchester Pride Fringe Festival, which served up a range of music, theatre and exhibitions to a gaggle of the UK's cultured homosexuals.

This weekend, thousands will visit Manchester’s Gay Village, supporting LGBT rights and having a damn good time while doing it. The annual parade Saturday 24th at 1pm will see scores of participants marching throughout the cities streets and this year's theme is ‘Acceptable in the 80’s?’ A fitting tribute to the decade’s impact on HIV activism, the introduction of Section 28 and, of course, the creation of one of the greatest gay icons of our time! Madge, baby.

The Pride weekend plays host to some well-known entertainers, including The Feeling who open the main stage on Friday 23rd, followed by Shayne Ward and Kate Nash. As well as live music acts, the weekend offers a range of market and lifestyle expo stalls and a chance to dance the night away at the Indoor Arena to energetic DJ sets.

Finally, Manchester Pride will culminate with the George House Trust candlelit vigil at Sackville Gardens on Monday 26th at 9:15pm. In remembrance of those lost to the HIV virus this ceremony will allow the crowds to share a minutes silence and show support towards winning the fight against the epidemic.

We think it’ll be a weekend we'll never forget… unless we have too many margaritas.